Aviva Premiership preview: Jacques Burger says goodbye to Saracens with Exeter vs Wasps set to headline weekend

Six things to look out for this weekend

Jacques Burger will retire after this weekend's match (Getty)

Sale’s home comforts could lead to unbeaten season

Sale Sharks vs Gloucester – AJ Bell Stadium (Friday, 19:45)

Sale have the chance to complete an impressive unbeaten season at home at the AJ Bell Stadium, but it will be the chance to secure European Champions Cup rugby next season that will be the more appealing landmark that can be obtained with a victory over Gloucester.

The Sharks will guarantee a top-six finish if they beat Gloucester and Harlequins slip-up against relegation-threatened London Irish, although they can also gap a Northampton side in sixth that face a difficult match against Bath this weekend. Their hopes of a top-four finish aren’t completely over, although a Gloucester victory would confirm that.

Danny Cipriani will make his final appearance for Sale at the AJ Bell Stadium (Getty)

For the Cherry and Whites, they’re on the outside looking in when it comes to the Champions Cup, and having won just one game on the road all season, all things point to an unblemished home season for Sale.

Tuilagi absence causes backline reshuffle

Leicester Tigers vs Worcester Warriors – Welford Road (Saturday, 15:15)

Another day, another injury to Manu Tuilagi, and the absence of the Leicester centre has forced director of rugby Richard Cockerill into something of a reshuffle. Mathew Tait moves forward to fill the inside centre shirt with Telusa Veainu filling his berth at full-back, and Adam Thompstone comes into the side to claim the vacancy on the wing.


 Manu Tuilagi has suffered a medial knee ligament injury 
 (Getty)

However, it’s the welcome return of Ed Slater in the back-row that will delight the Tigers faithful, and he leads the side with Ben Youngs dropping to the replacements’ bench.

An international affair at Franklin’s Gardens

Northampton Saints vs Bath – Franklin’s Gardens (Saturday, 15:15)

Francois Louw returns to captain the side with Rhys Priestland preferred at fly-half to recently appointed skipper George Ford, who is among the replacements. Louw is not the only international returning to the affray though, as both sides will welcome back a host of familiar names for the enticing clash in Northampton that is set to confirm whether Saints will have any top four hopes come the final weekend next week.

David Wilson comes into the front-row while Anthony Watson starts at full-back, having served his two-match suspension for tackling England colleague Alex Goode in the air during the defeat to Saracens.


 George North starts on the wing against Bath 
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Saints know they must win in order to keep top four hopes alive, and a defeat will leave them on the brink of missing out on the top six altogether. They are able to recall Wales wing George North as well as England duo Ben Foden and Lee Dickson, although it’s the return of non-international flanker Jamie Gibson that could prove the most pivotal.

Home semi-final at stake in Sandy Park showdown

Exeter Chiefs vs Wasps – Sandy Park (Sunday, 13:00)

The tie of the penultimate round sees second-placed Wasps travel south to take on third-placed Exeter, with the Coventry-based side knowing victory will guarantee themselves a home semi-final and possible shot at top spot.

After last weekend’s nail-biting European Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Saracens, Wasps director of rugby Dai Young makes just one change with Joe Simpson starting in place of the injured Dan Robson, the scrum-half having 10 bells knocked out of him by an illegal tackle from Owen Farrell that has landed the England 10 a two-week ban.

Dave Ewers returns for Exeter to face Bath (Getty)

The Chief meanwhile gave up second when they suffered defeat by Gloucester last time out, and Rob Baxter makes two changes to his side with Dave Ewers back on the blindside and Phil Dollman beating Lachie Turner to the full-back spot. Ewers’ return means that Don Armand switches to No 8, with the Premiership’s top try scorer Thomas Waldrom dropping to the bench.

London Irish to finish bottom – but relegation must wait

London Irish vs Harlequins – Madejski Stadium (Sunday, 15:00)

All signs point to a Harlequins victory on Sunday that will confirm London Irish as this season’s basement-dwellers, given they are seven points behind Newcastle with just two games to spare. Victory, however, would give them a chance of catching Newcastle providing Saracens meet expectations and beat the Falcons in Sunday’s final match.


 London Irish won't know if they're relegated even if they lose this weekend 
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The loss to Newcastle a fortnight ago appeared to pave the way to Irish’s relegation. However, even if they are unable to catch the Falcons, one final saving grace could come in the form of a Bedford Championship victory. The Blues go into this weekend’s opening Championship play-off matches as the only team who cannot be promoted, although favourites Bristol as well as Yorkshire Carnegie and Doncaster will qualify for promotion and will lead to Irish’s drop down for the first time since the Premiership was formed.

Brutal Burger to bow out in style

Saracens vs Newcastle – Allianz Park (Sunday, 15:15)

The final game of the weekend is set to be an emotional one as Saracens fan favourite Jacques Burger makes his last appearance for the club before retirement. Despite the European Champions Cup final just two weeks away and another possible Premiership final appearance on the cards, Burger will return to Namibia to embark on a career in farming, but he has been given one last send-off as he starts at openside flanker for the visit of Newcastle.

Richard Barrington, Jared Saunders and Titi Lamositele form an all-new front-row with Jim Hamilton starting at lock and Jackson Wray at No 8 in a much-changed pack. Behind them, Neil de Kock starts at scrum-half with Charlie Hodgson replacing the banned Farrell, while Marcelo Bosch and Ben Ransom also come into the side at 13 and 15 respectively.


 Owen Farrell has been given a two-week ban 
 (Getty)

Newcastle make five changes for the match, with director of rugby Dean Richards fully aware that a victory against the league leaders will confirm their place in next season’s Premiership.